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On December 14th, 2012 at 9:30 am, a heavily armed man dressed in black infiltrated Sandy Hook Elementary School and without a word opened fire.Teachers locked their doors. Children were ordered to hide in corners, closets, and cupboards. A quick-thinking library clerk locked and barricaded 18 children in a storage room giving them crayons and paper to occupy their minds. A kindergarten teacher covered the windows and locked the doors to her classroom, and an effort to keep her students calm, she read them a story. The principal, the school psychologist and four teachers lost their lives trying to protect those of their young students.

Despite their best efforts, twenty 6 and 7 year old children lost their lives. The 400 that survived, aged 5-10 years old, are scarred with the memory of a nightmare and left brokenhearted to mourn their siblings, cousins, and friends.

Although the shooting lasted only a few minutes, it’s effect will last a lifetime.

Children were led hand in hand, eyes closed, as they made their way through the aftermath of terror.

Frantic parents met the children at a nearby Firehall. The pain of looking for their child or children in the middle of such a tragedy would surely have been unimaginable. As would have been the grief of the parents who were forced to identify their children from photographs taken at the scene.

Obama echoed the voice of every parent when he said “we will hug our children a little tighter”. Unfortunately for some, this simple act could not be carried out that night.

On December 14th 2012, flags flew at half-staff and candlelight vigils were held nationwide. Newtown’s St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church was filled to capacity with mourners and people trying to make sense of a gross injustice, people searching to grab hold of an ounce of hope in the midst of complete devastation.

On December 14th 2012, the nation wept as 20 little angels were sent back home into the arms God.

RIP Sandy Hook Elementary Victims, children and school staff

May God heal the hearts of the little one’s who survived and hold in his heart the families of those who did not.

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Unfortunately, I could not locate pictures of Madeleine Hsu, Allison Wyatt, Benjamin Wheeler, and Arielle Richman. May they rest in peace.

Death happens. It is the saddest most difficult part of life. We all experience death, no one is immune. It can happen any day, at any age, at any stage, to anyone. There is no warning, there is no real preparing, for how do you say good-bye to someone you love? How do those you love say good-bye to you?

The day this harsh reality hit me, was the day Letters From Heaven Love Mom xo was born.

I remember looking at my children and accepting the reality that there are no guarantees that I would be granted another day with them. There are no guarantees that I will be there when they get married, or have children of their own. There are no guarantees that I will see them graduate or experience their fist date. No guarantees, no warning, no last hug or kiss good-bye. One day it could all be gone. That truth left me fearful. And yet I was filled with a deep sense of gratitude for each and every moment I had been gifted to that day.

Looking into their little faces, I wondered, if something were to happen to me, how long would it take them to begin to forget about the woman that loved them so deeply, the woman they refer to as Mom? How long would it take for them to forget about the crazy morning songs I sing to them when I wake them up? Or the silly nick names I give them? What would they remember of me? What would they miss the most? Who would they turn to when they needed their Mom?

That night, at 3am, I woke up frantically searching in the dark for a pen and paper. The first of the letters was born. The message was so beautiful and absolutely perfect, each word was written through tears for each word held within it the truth of a Mother’s love.

In the months that followed, more letters emerged. Always in the middle of the night, or just before falling asleep. Each letter was uplifting, encouraging, inspiring, and encompassed as much love as a letter could hold. Each letter provided guidance through life’s every day challenges and was written in a way that whether they were read as children or as adults, the messages that needed to be heard, would be.

Every letter broke my heart as I took myself out of this world and crossed over to the next where I would place myself watching over my children with all the love and protection of a Mother Angel. Every letter was created on tear stained sheets, in the dark, with a pen in one hand and Kleenex in the other. The whole process was heart wrenching and absolutely worthwhile. No matter what my children will always know that I love them, and through those letters they will feel the absolute, unconditional love of their Mother. They will know how to reach me, they will know my heart, and my deepest wish for their happiness. I have left no room for them to doubt that our love is strong enough to bridge this world and the next.

I felt compelled to share the letters with friends and family. I couldn’t have imagined the impact it would have. I am so pleased that with the help of Teresa DeGrosbois and Faye Levow, and the encouragement of so many Leaders in the transformational world such as best selling author Debra Poneman & Sheri Fink, Susan Heim with Chicken Soup for the Soul, and 6-Time EMMY Winner Shawne Duperon to name a few, Letters From Heaven Love Mom xo is now published and available for purchase. For more information visit our website.

Having the letters published took some careful consideration, these were intimate letters to my children. I would only have them published if it was possible for readers to add their own cherished memories, words of wisdom and love to the pages of the book. The team at Launch Pad Publishing made it happen. Artists Nicole Cote and The Heart Painter have turned the book into a treasured keepsake. Their work is exquisite. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results and I am excited to share these letters with you ❤

Letters From Heaven Love Mom xo is a keepsake of letters written with the love of a mother’s heart to her children. Each of the letters are uplifting and provide encouragement through the challenges we all face in daily living.With a strong focus on self-love and inspiration, it has been described as a translation of a Mother’s love to simple words. No matter what your age, this book is sure to tug at the heartstrings of your soul.